Tips'n'tricks to get more FPS - research for a sticky!

[Yskonyn]

System being used:
HP Pavilion zv 6149 (yep indeed, a laptop)
RAM: 512MB @ 166Mhz (yep I know, crap, but it's standard issue)
Processor: AMD Athlon 64bit 3200+ @ 2.0Ghz
Vidcard: ATi Radeon Xpress 200 with 128MB
Drivers: Official ATi Catalyst 5.10 with Control Center
Driver Settings: Anti Aliasing - Let system decide, Aniso. Filtering - Let system decide, Catalyst A.I. - Standard, MIP Map detail - Quality, Wait for refresh - OFF, unless application specifies, Geometric Instancing - ON, DXT Texture support - ON

Game version: 1.2
Game settings: 1024x768, Aniso. Filtering - OFF, Anti Aliasing - OFF, Automatic Quality - ON, Post Processing - OFF, Shaders - LOW, Textures - MEDIUM.

Decent framrates in space scenes. Planetary scenes (like in mission 2) unplayable, but if you stick to doing you own thing in the X-Universe the game is playable with quite a decent performance.

Additional things to consider:
Minimize the Target Window for a small increase in fps.
Disable the HUD for a medium increase in fps.

Greetz.

[ammath]

I tried omega drivers for my X800... And forced PS and VS to 2,0.. That increased my menu frame rate to 80 from 19 so i thought finally! But no, seriously ive tried EVERYTHING but I can not get Argon prime above 14 FPS with HUD engaged.

I know its playable and I am not debatting it, what i am debatting is that changing system options from min to max and everything in beetwen should have some effect? But it never climbs over 14 FPS, almost as there is some sort of FPS limiter installed?

Forgot to mention, changing system settings have effect on X3 in everything BUT the playable game. Menus, video etc... all show great FPS gain/loss but not the playable game itself.

[bignick217]

Note: All of this information has been added from my other thread and as per CBJ has been moved here to hopefully help all of you.

Ok, like the rest of you I couldn't get the game to run even decently no matter what I did, using every trick I know and trying every one of your suggestions. Nothing worked.

Well I had an incident with a bad install of Linspire on my machine forcing me to reformat and reinstall windows. Yes, I was pissed (Royally!). But then saw this as an oppertunity to test and see what affect a fresh install of windows and nothing else installed other than video and sound drivers would have on X3. The answer was again, nothing. (Still Pissed!)

Well, while at work I had realized that I had forgot to install my chipset drivers. Chipset drivers have a direct affect on CPU performance and CPU bottlenecking. So I installed the chipset drivers when I got home and they made a difference. It was smoother and more playable. At this point I'm getting hopeful for the first time since buying this game. So I went online to intel.com and tracked down the latest drivers and installed them. Oh I was almost in tears because:

IT FINALLY WORKS!!!!!!!

For the first time it's actually playable. It still stutters, but no where near as bad as it was. The game still has some serious issues in the area of performance. The performance should still be a lot higher especially considering the spec of my machine. But at least it's more consistent now.

I hope this helps all of you.....

I knew it couldn't of been a problem with my graphics card.

Here are my specs:

- Processor type/speed: 3.6Ghz P4 560J, 800Mhz FSB, 1Mb cache, LGA775
- Memory size/speed: 2Gb Corsair XMS Pro DDR 400Mhz RAM / 2x 512Mb CMX512-3200C2, 2x 512Mb CMX512-3200C2PRO (The only difference between these two models is one has led's and one doesn't. Both are CAS2, unbuffered memory modules running at 2-3-3-6 latency timings as per manufacturer specifications)
- Motherboard model: Asus P5P800 ( Intel 865PE chipset ) A.I. Proactive series motherboard
- Graphics card model/memory: 256Mb ATI X800 XT Platinum Edition 8x AGP
- Sound card model: Sound Blaster EAX 24bit Audigy LS

Also for the record.

Intel also has some software for download called:

Intel Application Accelerator (raid and non raid variations)

as long as you meet the specified chipset models you will be able to install. It's supposed to replace some driver to speed up read and writes from the HD and reduce CPU bottlenecking.

I have the wrong chipset model so it won't install on mine but it may be of use to some of you if you have a compatible chipset.

If anyone has a compatible chipset and has tried and been able to install the intel application accelerator software on their machine. Please share your results if it did or didn't improve your performance of the game.

It could be useful to others.

Here is intels software description:

The Intel® Application Accelerator enables faster delivery of data from the hard drive to the processor and other system level hardware.

Here's the readme overview:

The Intel(R) Application Accelerator is designed to improve
performance of the storage sub-system and overall system
performance. This software delivers improved performance
through several ingredient technologies (components).
Certain components will be available only on Pentium(R) 4
processor-based systems running Microsoft Windows 2000 and
Windows XP. Software installation is flexible and fully
automated for Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 Second
Edition(SE), Windows Millennium Edition(Me), Windows
NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP operating systems.


Also there are several different versions each compatible with different chipsets. What to do is right click my computer and choose properties. Click the hardware tab and then click device manager. Next double click IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers to expand the category. The very first listing will be the pertinent information.

example: Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controller

You will need to find the version of the software that is compatible with the model listed on your computer. To do this, on the download screen that all of the versions listed you will see a link called "read me" in each of the sections for each download. The compatible chipsets will be listed under the system requirements of each of the read me. If you find one that lists your model than you can install it on your system.

Don't worry about accidental install of these drivers if your afraid of them not being compatible. Each installer automatically checks your computer for compatibility and if yours is not compatible, then it will refuse to install the drivers.

The chipset listed above in the example is the same as the listing on my machine. Unfortunately there is not a version of the software that is compatible my model yet so I have not been able to test it myself.

I look forward to reading your results, because if it works well for you, I will be looking forward to when they have a version compatible with my model.

Here is the Direct Link should anyone be willing to explore this option.

Linky

This is only for Intel chipsets. AMD users should feel free to check with VIA for possible equivelants as VIA is the primary chipset provider for AMD processor motherboards.

Anyone using Intel Chipsets should always install the drivers, if im not mistaken Intel chipsets depend on their drivers and not having them installed is almost equivalent to running PIO mode (bit faster than PIO though)

Installing them allows your drives to run at their max UDMA Mode.

Unfortunately for many using VIA and SiS Chipsets, even the drivers do not always help as ours run fully even on generic windows drivers. (well most SiS anyways), VIA does though.

Actually, VIA Arena Hyperion causes me alot of probs, even the "recommended" drivers from my manufactuer causes lower performance in anything I run, not just X3, running wtihout them for me = more performance *go figure*

Yep, I updated my chipset drivers last night, and I've been having a blast ever since! I think it still should take better advantage of my geforce 6800 gt, but hopefully teh 1.3 patch will renedy that...

[Darth Ratty]

All the tweaks I've done haven't helped much in Argon Prime Frame rate still goes below 10 FPS in there when HUD is on. The worst sector I've found so far is Xenon Sector 472: 2 FPS with HUD on 4 with it off

I think it will be time for a new system soon. CPU just doesn't have enough grunt anymore. Most of it is about 3 years old, so it hasn't done bad.

[Kortez]

Thanks for the note on the chipset drivers. It was one thing I hadn't checked. I had installed them when I built the machine but naturally that was a while ago and there were different ones on the site. With the new drivers for my 845 I picked up figure 5fps. The intel application accelerator costs me 2-3 fps though, so uninstalled that.

I was already able to play the game but combat was a bit frustrating. Now I can get 12-25fps with the HUD up in combat and that's much less annoying than the single digits I was seeing before. Even getting as high as 30fps with HUD up in some places, 40-50 without. Really looking forward to 1.3 now!

Specs are:
Pentium 4 2.4GhzB
Ati x800xt pe 256MB video
intel 845 based Soltek board
1GB DDR ram
Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum

Running game at 1280x960
AA on in game
AF on in game
ACQ on in game
Post processing on
EAX off

Using ATI Catalyst 5.11 beta 2 drivers

[Lorcin]

hmm weird one from me - I changed my audio drivers from the standard realtek ones that came with my board to the nvidia drivers (I have an nforce4 based board).

I went from 8-10fps to 25fps in one leap - but my spidif doesn't work atm

Must say that is still a bit silly on a Althlon 64 3500+ with 1Gb ram and a 7800GT but nm - it's just about playable.

[bignick217]

yeah it doesn't nail the problem completely. You still get stutter especially in systems with high traffic (i.e. argon prime), but the severity of is significantly reduced and are at least playable now. And the systems with low traffic (i.e. pirate sectors) are smooth as silk. And the systems with medium traffic or nebula effects are considerably smoother now too (i.e. the hole).

[ammath]

Just a thought about the mouse lag alot of people talk about. I elimnated it totaly by using omega drivers to force PS to 2.1. That gave me over 150 fps in the main menu, but it still drops to 15 in argon prime. But at least the mouse lag is gone :0)

[ceenda]

Well, after trying some of the techniques on TweakGuide:

- Switching off "VPU Recover" in ATI Control Center
- Switching off "Fast Write" in ATI Control Center

I haven't had any freezes at all.

And... like many other people here...

... I'm getting the highest FPS when all detail levels are set to MAX!!!

Argon prime is still a bit slow (seems to flip between highest FPS and then a few seconds of 5 fps) though other systems seem to be quite fast.

[MadForce]

I haven't got any tips and tricks yet.

I note that the "Run as Benchmark" is disabled.. Is there a command or a config tweak you can use to show FPS (I should read the whole thread but I can't be arsed).

I will try the Audio Card tweak, was never a big fan of RealTek anyway I will get an Audigy 2 since the Audigy 4 and X-Fi are 1 not available in Aus yet (atleast not where I buy) and are a bit pricey (they are up to EAX 5.0) I am really interested in CMSS 3D for First Person Shooters anyway.

I will try a few of the Vid Tweaks. I would like the cut scenes smooth (I think this may be due to the Audio + HUD)

My Specs are
AMD X2 4400
Cossair 1Gb PC4000 (or 44K canna remember) RAM
XFX Nv GTX 7800 256
DFI LanParty SLi-D Mainboard (NF4 chipset)

XP2 Pro 64


The only time I have noticable FPS loss is in Cinematics (Cut Scenes) and Jump. I was extremely annoyed when I first saw it as it was a very noticable loss (like down to 2 frames) ON MY BRAND NEW SYSTEM ! That I have clocked CS over 100 FPS average and upto 198 on a clean install on CS Bench at 1280x1024.

The game is playable at 1280x1024, I did the whole battle sim at 1280x1024 no dramas it was when I got ingame I had dramas (The res didn't make any difference to performance).

[esd]

Is there a command or a config tweak you can use to show FPS (I should read the whole thread but I can't be arsed).

Most people use FRAPS.

[Cullen]

Does anyone else get better frame rates when the graphics settings are higher? I suspected my aging system (Athlon XP 2600+, 512MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB) would struggle so initially set the detail on low, used 1024x768 and turned off AA and AF. FRAPS reported about 10-15 FPS in Argon Prime with the HUD on.

With AA and AF on, max detail and a higher resolution I get about 15-20 in Argon Prime. Even in combat it alright - a little jerky at first then quite smooth (although the framerate drops to single figures occationally).

[petrach]

I am also getting horrible frame rates.

My Specs:

AMD 64 3500+
1 GB RAM
X800 PRO 256 MB

Realtech AC97 on board audio <--------Notice a trend here??


Im running X3 at 1280 x 1024 x 32 with textures and shaders on HIGH
Everything else set on low or high performance down to the driver level.

Menu = 16 FPS, Mouse is very sluggish.
Argon Prime with HUD = 5-18 FPS
Argon Prime without HUD = 34 FPS MAX. And thats when im looking at empty space. Add ships in there and it drops down to 18-25 FPS

Please fix this. My hardware should be enough to run this game perfectly. It runs everything else just fine.

Im using X3 with 1.2 patch.

[toontoonizer]

i havent tried this but for those of you who have geforce 7 series cards and are still experiencing slow down in large dogfights, try turning supersampling off in ur control panel. I dont think it will work because the X3 HUD is alpha blended and supersampling dusnt effect alpha blending but hey worth a shot

[slackarse]

Has anyone got any tips on performing a reliable FPS test?

I'm using Fraps, but during testing, I ran a fraps benchmark. I quit and started again, using the same new game, and it was 8fps slower. I also had problems where turning AA on actually gave me higher results as well.

Is there a way to do a consistent test, or do we have to wait til the benchmark is released?

[Crypton]

Fraps is reliable, if you want to be more accurate, do a benchmark on a clean boot, then reboot and bench again.

Sometimes even using tools, memory that gets used does not always get freed back up and can effect the outcome of a benchmark.

You can however try a memory cleaning/defrag program to clean up after running X3 and then starting it again.

Try using Hare to clean/defrag memory when needed.

http://www.dachshundsoftware.com/download.html

[MadBoris]

Has anyone got any tips on performing a reliable FPS test?

I'm using Fraps, but during testing, I ran a fraps benchmark. I quit and started again, using the same new game, and it was 8fps slower. I also had problems where turning AA on actually gave me higher results as well.

Is there a way to do a consistent test, or do we have to wait til the benchmark is released?

That has been the whole problem with getting any accurate results or response from what people mean by "slow". How can people quantify slow when there isn't a methodology to test the speed??? It's not possible!
Especially when slow is under 60 fps for some fools. I get 10-20 fps in Argon prime with 3GHZ cpu and 6800 ultra, that's slow, but that's still no methodolgy to compare against.

It's as if the X benchmark was left off for obvious reasons that are now becoming clear

We need to standardize tests and I'm suprised egosoft hasn't initially suggest that in there report system specs slow thread, just a bunch of indiscernible "it's slow" comments with system specs.

-example-
Use Fraps - check detailed benchmark statistics checkboxes
I suggest starting a new game as "normal".
Once getting into the system turn around and face the north gate and target it.
Start a Fraps benchmark (F11). Press "U" to turn on autopilot.
Stop benchmark when entering gate animation begins.
Try with and without hud ("Shift h").
/-example-
That should produce consistent reproducable results for all.

Argon Prime is most likely a Processor intensive benchmark. Although there is probably some definite code optimization needed before I get an 8 GhZ processor and it finally becomes playable. About 700 mb of system RAM is initially used in the system so 512mb users will get some page file thrashing. To test graphics cards, a surrounding system more empty of traffic can be used that still has alot of particles and nebulas like Herrons Nebula from gate to to landing on station, again use autopilot from the gate to the station. (careful: entering the station will write over one of your three autosaves, otherwise your current game is unaffected)

[Lorcin]

For anyone else on XP x64 try getting a non-m$ defragger (the only one I know that supports x64 so far is the beta from www.00-software.com) and doing you swap file.

Even though my install was on a completely clean partition Master Gates decided my swap file should be in 53 different fragments!

[MadBoris]

I came up with a simple way that we can get reproducible benchmarks and actually have a methodical system to compare results.

Check out this thread - Testing methodology for comparable and quantifiable performance results

[Antti]

FSAutoStart

Program can be found
http://www.kensalter.com/fsautostart/download.htm

More tips to install it
http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/ ... 029173/p/2


I was quite pessimist when I did begin.
But when finaly managed to get it work it is awesome.

My biggest problem was.
I did put program priority to realtime and game did not respond from my keyboard anymore (logitech wireless)
Normal or higher that normal priority works well.

2 tip is from
http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/ ... 3201029173

Run program two times.
Free mem 680->760->850 (installed 1G)